GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – The World Trade Organization is set to host its inaugural World Trade and Tech Day on September 14 at its headquarters in Geneva. The event aims to gather trade officials, technology policymakers, business leaders, and various other stakeholders. Its core theme, “AI and Trade: Turning Potential into Progress,” will steer discussions focusing on artificial intelligence and its impact on international commerce. The agenda emphasizes policies that promote access to AI tools while fostering more inclusive global trade practices.
Opening the event, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will deliver welcoming remarks. A ministerial dialogue will explore why artificial intelligence has become a prominent trade policy concern. The program also features a keynote speech and a panel with private-sector representatives. Topics will include digital services, intellectual property, technical standards, and the involvement of developing economies in AI-driven value chains. These sessions aim to connect technological policy with the real-world requirements of international trade.
The World Trade Report 2025 will serve as a crucial reference during the event. According to WTO modeling, artificial intelligence has the potential to boost global trade by up to 37% by 2040. It further estimates that worldwide gross domestic product could increase by as much as 13%. Achieving such growth depends heavily on infrastructure, skills development, technological integration, and effective policies. The report also highlights that unequal access to AI could restrict participation for lower-income countries.
Trade policy at the forefront
Multiple sessions will investigate how AI can reduce the costs associated with international trade. Attendees will review tools that assist companies in processing documentation, ensuring compliance, and analyzing supply chains. The agenda will also include discussions on digitally delivered services and the management of intellectual property. Additionally, a session will focus on how technical standards can promote compatibility between markets. These topics reflect the expanding role of AI in customs, logistics, finance, and other trade-related services.
The event will also shed light on obstacles to broader AI adoption. Many businesses still face issues like unreliable connectivity, limited computing resources, a shortage of skilled workers, and insufficient financing. Smaller enterprises often encounter legal and technical hurdles when entering digital markets. The WTO’s small-business group addressed these challenges during a June discussion on AI and trade. Participants examined how new AI tools can improve market research, reduce operational costs, and enhance access to trade data.
Showcasing practical AI applications
World Trade and Tech Day will feature an exhibition dedicated to artificial intelligence solutions for international commerce. A pitching session will showcase tools aimed at companies, public agencies, and trade organizations. These demonstrations will bridge policy discussions with tangible applications of AI technology. Organizers plan to illustrate how AI underpins supply-chain analysis, regulatory processes, and access to market information. The format aims to give attendees concrete examples of existing systems that support trade functions.
The September 14 event will be hosted at the World Trade Organization’s headquarters in Geneva. Its schedule combines ministerial dialogues, business insights, policy analysis, and technology showcases. The focus areas include artificial intelligence, trade costs, digital services, and economic participation. The program will also explore the infrastructure and skill development necessary for wider AI adoption. Details on registration and virtual participation are available on the official event page.